Saturday, August 2, 2008

At the August meeting, Abe Waranowitz will demo two popular computer programs in computer art and animation. AND, both of these programs are FREE! Yes, FREE! Are they as good as $300+ programs? That’s debatable, but with these programs you can get your feet wet while you save up for Photoshop or Maya. The interfaces of these programs differ, but the CONCEPTS are the same. Learn the basics of the following and you'll be able to learn Photoshop or similar programs more quickly:

The GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/) is a free creative graphics program that is best compared with Photoshop. The GIMP lets you edit photos, make comics and even animated GIF's. Abe will demonstrate the GIMP program to create comics and art. Learn how to use layers and flats to speed up image processing and drawing. See how Abe refurbishes old comics for Marvel.

Blender (http://www.blender.org/) is a free 3D modeling, animation and game creation package that was used to create the short movies "Elephant's Dream" and "Big Buck Bunny". Learn how simple, yet complex 3D modeling can be as Abe demonstrates how he made the airship for his in-progress/future graphic novel, "Cloudliner: Corona".

This WILL NOT be a boring technical presentation! (Unless you want it to be!) For fun, we will watch the short movies "Elephant's Dream" and "Big Buck Bunny", so you can see what Blender is capable of. Then laugh as you see how futile Abe's attempts are in comparison! Just kidding. ;)Seriously, don't give up on your dream of art or animation because you think you can’t afford the software or it's too hard to learn. You CAN get started right now! You CAN learn a little each week! Come and learn how to make your computer do your work for you for once....

About Abe:

Abe Waranowitz started drawing in high school because he was jealous of a friend's talent. His imagination went wild and his talent grew, but the engineering side of the brain took over as he studied EE in college, got a job, got married and had kids.

His love of Linux and computers starved the artistic side of his brain. But, gasping for life, hanging by a thread, Abe's last creative brain cell refused to die. In a daring coup, this tiny brain cell managed to inspire these boring computer brain cells to use computers in new & artistic ways. Gimp and Blender greatly appealed to those geeky brain cells. "Oooooo!" they drooled over the eye candy of digital art and animation. "We wants it! Our Precious!"

The tide had turned, the dam had burst, and the last creative brain cell had created a monster! Resistant brain cells were slaughtered. Many were lost, and creative juices stained the battle field. Victorious, Abe now spends his free time possessed by an army of creative geeky brain cells, learning how to use Gimp and Blender to create a graphic novel/web comic in the Steam Punk genre. Inspired by Jules Verne, Dune, Myst and Nausica, his novel will be full of air-ships, submarines, steam power, knights, magic and monsters! He's currently working on the outline, script and character design, and looking for serious feedback from willing victims... er.. volunteers.

Main entrance is at northeast corner of Alaskan and Vine. NOTE: DURING SUMMER SESSION, USE ALTERNATE ENTRANCE ONE BLOCK EAST OF ALASKAN WAY, AT NORTHWEST CORNER OF ELLIOTT AVE. AND VINE ST. Street parking is free beginning at 6 PM.

ABOUT CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST: Cartoonists Northwest is an association of professional and amateur cartoonists who meet monthly to network, collaborate, and promote community among local artists. Established in 1981, CNW is one of Seattle’s longest-standing organizations and boasts membership of such artists as: Lynn Johnston (“For Better or For Worse”), David Horsey (Seattle PI), John Lustig (Disney and “Last Kiss”), Brian Basset (“Adam @ Home” and “Red and Rover”), Donna Barr (“The Desert Peach” and “Stinz”) and many more.

Become a member! $30 per year to become a member of Cartoonists Northwest ($40 outside the US) – It’s a bargain at twice the price! Plus you get a one-year subscription to the CNW newsletter, PENSTUFF. To heck with your un-read subscription to Newsweek! JOIN CNW TODAY!Contact: Keith Curtis, CNW President, at cartoonistNW@gmail.com